Authorities will be stepping up their efforts in stopping impaired drivers this weekend.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies are kicking off an effort labeled "Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk."
State Troopers picked up 46 people on impaired driving charges in a 24-hour period during Super Bowl weekend last year. That number does not include local agencies.
"It's definitely become one of the weekends throughout the year that law enforcement is focusing on," said Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt. Anne Ralston.
More than 80 Ohio law enforcement agencies will use funding from federal grants to conduct more than 1,925 hours of enforcement and 1,100 hours of saturation patrols from 6 a.m. Sunday to 6 a.m. Monday.
Ralston suggests you have a plan for getting home before you head out to a bar or party to watch the game.
"Know what you're going to do that evening if you're going to be drinking alcohol so you don't get into the position where you're going to make a bad decision where you either hurt yourself or hurt or kill someone else."
If you are playing host, Ralston urges you to talk with your guests about their plans and try to keep anyone who may have had too much to drink from leaving.
